Volunteers Summer 2006Kitumusote's international volunteer program has enabled volunteers to leave Africa with a deeper understanding of the realities that face Africa today; poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, disease, illiteracy, and gender inequality. They also leave with a deep newfound respect for their environment- they understand the value of running water, electricity, and other exhaustible resources. They see the beauty of the Maasai people, the beauty of their natural environment, and learn lessons that will last a lifetime.

Making new friends

The volunteer program also helps support Kitumusote's operating budget and proceeds go directly into sustaining it's projects and is one of the ways that Kitumusote is working toward becoming a self-sustaining organization.

Requirements for Volunteers:

Volunteers should be at least 18 years of age and possess at least one year of college classes and/or a bachelor's degree in one of the following fields: anthropology, sociology, agriculture, business administration, medicine, environmental science, botany, international development, education, geology, forestry, ecology, or film studies. Volunteers should also be in good health and be ready to live and work in an environment where there is no running water and no electricity. Proficiency in English is also required. Volunteers should show strong initiative and interest in sharing knowledge with the Maasai.

Summer 2006

Overview of Volunteer Program:

Our volunteer program is designed to allow volunteers an opportunity to integrate into local cultural and social life.

Kitumusote is looking for volunteers who can assist the organization with their ongoing projects that include:

• Environment education and training
• Women's Education: Reading, Writing, Art, Basic Health Care for women and children, Basic Arithmetic, English Language, HIV AIDS Awareness & Prevention
•  Tree Planting and Tree/Plant Maintenance
• Activities for Children: Art, Performance Art, Story Telling, English Language
• Organic Agriculture: Garden maintenance, livestock cultivation
• Maasai youth filmmakin project: help the Maasai preserve their culture through cinema

Volunteers may also develop their own volunteer program and may send their ideas with their application. Your ideas will be reviewed to make sure they are culturally appropriate and in accordance with chief values of conservation, preservation, education and knowledge sharing.

Housing:

Volunteers working in Arusha:

Home stay: Kitumusote  boarding facilities have in-door plumbing, limited electricity and limited running water in Arusha. You are provided with room and board which includes three meals a day. If you prefer a hotel, we can assist you in finding a safe and fairly priced residential hotel in Arusha. However, placement in a hotel means you are in charge of arranging all of your own meals. Arusha houses many affordable restaurants and cafes, many of which serve Western as well as traditional African foods.

Volunteers working in Mondulli Juu:

Home stay with a Maasai family: You can live with a host family in a Maasai boma.Volunteers taking this option should be aware that the bomas are constructed out of mud and thatch, and fires are burned inside for warmth and cooking. There are no toilets are running water so you must be prepared for bucket bathing and outdoor toilet use. Food will be prepared for you and it will follow the Maasai traditional means of nourishment that consists of milk, maize, beans, rice, potatoes, and meat. Volunteers are welcome to bring their own food and will be provided with kerosene cooking stoves, cooking pots, dishes and utensils.

Tented Camp: Volunteers can also set up tented camp. You will be provided with a tent if you choose this option. Volunteers are required to bring a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, pillow and any other essentials that will make the stay more comfortable. The Maasai will provide meals and you may also bring your own food.

Program options and fees:

Payment of Program Fees provides volunteers with the following: Swahili language training, full accomodation, transportation to and from Maasai village site and weekly stipend.

1. Three week program: $400 US dollars, not including round trip airfare, spending money and optional safari supplement. This program consists of a 3-day orientation with staff upon arrival as well as a crash course in basic Swahili. One week will be spent working in the Maasai village . The final four days include an optional safari to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.

2. Six week program: $ 800 US dollars, not including round trip airfare, spending money and optional safari supplement. This program consists of a week long orientation with staff in Arusha as well as a crash course in basic Swahili. Two to three weeks of this program will be spent working and living in the Maasai village. All volunteers will be placed in the program of their choice and are welcome to share ideas for new projects at the orientation. Two weeks can be spent in Arusha working side by side with Kitumusote's director and learning the foundations of running a grass-roots organization. The last week consists of an optional four day safari to Ngorongoro Crate and the Serengeti as well as a pre-departure briefing and write-up.

3. Twelve week program: $ 1200 US dollars, not including round trip airfare, spending money and optional safari supplement. This program consists of a week long orientation with staff in Arusha as well as a crash course in basic Swahili. Volunteers will spend part of this week developing a working scheme for the program of their choice and new ideas are welcome and can be shared during this time. We encourage volunteers to spend at least six weeks living and working in the Maasai village. Two weeks should be spent working side by side with Kitumusote's director. Volunteers on this program will also have a chance to develop written and visual presentations (including film, audio, poster projects, etc.) about their volunteer work/project. All audio.visual equipment will be provided, including the use of an HD digital camera. Therefore, two weeks should be spent developing a presentation based on the research/volunteer work you have completed during your stay. These presentations will be used to assist you as well as future volunteers in developing training programs for the Maasai community you will be working with through out your time in Tanzania. In your final week, you will have te option of taking a safari to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, but you will be required to participate in a pre-departure briefing and write-up.

Gap year students also welcome to apply.

How to apply

Please send us an email with your name, address, telephone number, age, email address, area of expertise/study, and level of academic qualification. We accept volunteers all year round, so notify us of your proposed travel dates. In your application, please send a one page essay that states your reasons for wanting to visit Tanzania, your special skills, and what program you would like to work under. Also please tell us about yourself.

Please send to:

info@wanderingstarfoundation.org

You will be notified by email upon receipt of your application.